Method for insulating against heat and/or cold and/or sound and /or fire, and device for carrying out said method

ABSTRACT

The walls ( 5, 29, 25 ) are covered with one or several insulating bodies ( 1 ) according to this method for insulating against heat and/or cold and/or sound and/or fire wherein each insulating body ( 1 ) comprises two plates ( 2 ) disposed at the distance from each other, wherein the intermediate space ( 4 ) of the plates ( 2 ) is filled with insulating material, is airtight closed toward the outside and is evacuated. The air contents or, respectively, the vacuum in the intermediate space ( 4 ) offering the insulating body ( 1 ) or the insulating bodies ( 1 ) and therewith the thermal or sound conductivity of the insulating body ( 1 ) is changed depending on the surrounding temperature, the inner temperature and/or the outside temperature or the prevailing sound level in the region or room ( 7, 8, 21, 32, 34 ) to be insulated. (FIG.  2 ). The damming and insulating effect of the insulation tender therewith to be increased and adapted to the respective requirements, the insulation can also be made transparent for employing the ambient temperature as required. Upon employment as a fire protection, the intermediate space ( 4 ) of the insulating body ( 1 ) or of the insulating bodies ( 1 ) can be additionally flooded with a noncombustible gas, for example halon gas, triggered by a fire alarm.

DESCRIPTION

[0001] The Invention relates to a method for insulating against heatand/or cold and/or sound and/or fire, wherein a wall or walls arejacketed with one or several insulating bodies, wherein each insulatingbody comprises two plates disposed at a distance, wherein theintermediate space between the two plates is filled with insulatingmaterial, that is airtight sealed toward the outside and is evacuatedand to a device for performing the method.

[0002] Conventionally only the surrounding outer walls and inner wallsof a chamber are jacketed with an insulating material for purposes ofheat insulation or of cold insulation of the chamber, however also forthe sound protection of the chamber. Sound protection walls areestablished in the free environment for example at heavily driven roads.In particular firewalls are placed at or in buildings for fireprotection, wherein the firewalls prevent the expansion of a fire or atleast are to delay the expansion of a fire. Presently, the employedinsulating materials comprised mostly a foamed plastic; the insulatingand damming effect of the foamed plastic resides on the slight thermalconductivity of the plastic itself and on the slight thermalconnectivity of the air bubbles enclosed in the plastic. The soundabsorbing property of the material has more importance in the situationof noise protection. The thermal conductivity is different from plasticto plastic, however the thermal conductivity is always less as comparedto the thermal conductivity of air. Limits are placed with theseinsulating materials and the insulating and damming effect achievablewith these materials based on the thermal conductivity of the air and ofthe employed plastic as well as the microporosity of the plastic. Thethickness of the plastic jacketing cannot be increased to a certaindegree for improving the damming effect. The spacial content of thechamber to be insulated and its wall thicknesses have to be standing ina justifiable relationship already based on purely economic reasons;this is most obvious in connection with transport containers, mobilecooling containers, liquid gas tanks and the like.

[0003] In order to increase the damming or insulating effects of aclosed cell plastic insulating material, it is known from the Germanprinted Patent document DE-OS 44241042 to evacuate the production spaceinitially for the closed cell plastic such that an under pressureprevails in the closed cell plastic while the production of the plasticmaterial is started; consequently also the individual cells of thefinished plastic surround a certain vacuum—each cell forms an underpressure cell—whereby the thermal conductivity relative to cells filledwith air is again clearly reduced. The ball shaped form of the cells canlater resist standard atmospheric pressure well.

[0004] The production of plastic under vacuum or, respectively, in anunder pressure chamber, is very expensive and cost intensive and is onlysensible in connection with closed cell plastics. The reuse of plasticwaste materials is only possible to a limited extent during theproduction of said plastics and is charging the environment, sinceplastics of the various kinds are collected in connection with thecollection of plastic wastes.

[0005] A vacuum insulation system is known where the insulation liningpanels are employed, which comprise stainless-steel sheet metal, whereinthe stainless steel sheet metal is welded onto profile frames accordingto the information flyer “Informationsblatt des Bundesministeriums fürWirtschaft und Technologie in Germany ‘Information Aktuell’ of Nov. 9,1999”. The hollow space between the stainless steel sheet metal isfilled with a special micro-porous insulating material and amicro-vacuum is generated in the following within the lining panel. Thethermal damming is therewith improved again, since the thermalconductivity in vacuum is 0 for practical purposes. The thickness ofthese lining panels can be clearly reduced relative to the otherwiseused foamed plastic plates in order to achieve the same damming andinsulating effect.

[0006] All known thermal insulations or cold insulations to be appliedat the outer walls of a container or of a building have a certain valuemaintaining, unchangeable thermal conductivity or damming effect, atbest the thermal connectivity or damming effect can deteriorate in thecourse of time by penetrating air in the case of a vacuumed plastic. Thethermal insulations or the cold insulations prevent or dam both aheating from the outside the case of high or relatively highenvironmental temperatures, for example upon sun irradiation during theday, as well as a cooling off, that is a heat elimination from a room tothe outside in case of low environmental temperatures, that is duringthe night or during cool weather. In order to maintain a uniformtemperature, for example in the rooms of a building, that presentlyrequired still expensive and cost intensive air conditioning plants,which are frequently detrimental and harmful to the well-being and thehealth of persons present in the rooms. The continuous insulation havinga uniform effect leads in addition frequently to the formation ofcondensate water and to the mold formation in the rooms, where suchformation can in most cases only be insufficiently counteracted with aventilation by an opening of a window.

[0007] It is an object of the present Invention to furnish a method anda device for insulating against heat and/or cold and/or sound and/orfire, which method or device are clearly more effective relative toconventional methods or devices without having to rely on a certain kindof plastic such as the closed cell plastic or a special micro-porousinsulating material and on an expensive method for its production. Thereuse of plastic wastes is to be possible to a large extent without thatan additional environmental damaging is to be accepted in connectionwith the processing. Furthermore the thermal conductivity of theemployed insulation is to be variable corresponding to the respectiverequirements. Both the method as well as the production and theoperation of the device are to be cost favorable, gentle on theenvironment and energy-saving. The possibility of employment is to be asvaried as possible.

[0008] This is accomplished according to the Invention by having the aircontent or, respectively, the vacuum in the intermediate space of theinsulating body or insulating bodies and thereby its or their thermalconductivity or sound conductivity changed depending on the surroundingtemperature, the internal temperature and/or the outer temperature or ofthe prevailing noise level in the region to be insulated or in the room.Thus the quality of vacuum or, respectively, the contents part in air inthe intermediate space changes the thermal conductivity and also thetransferability of sound waves and is adaptable to the requirements. Inorder to be able to employ sun energy in connection with the temperatureconditioning of for example a living room to a temperature of about 20degrees centigrade, the insulation can be made transparent in case theouter temperature reaches 20 degrees centigrade, such that a heatexchange can take place. Vice versa a lower outer temperature can beemployed when a cooling of a room is required.

[0009] The intermediate space of the insulating body or of theinsulating bodies is preferably evacuated and ventilated as required byprogram control, depending on the environmental temperature or,respectively, the inner temperature and/or the outer temperature or ofthe prevailing sound level in the region or the room to be insulated.

[0010] The inner temperature of a room to be insulated can beautomatically controlled by an automatic controller to a set point valuepreselected in this automatic controller based on evacuation andventilation of the intermediate space of the insulating body or of theinsulating bodies as required.

[0011] The air contents or, respectively, the vacuum in the intermediatespace of the insulating body or of the insulating bodies can becontrolled by an automatic controller depending on the differencebetween the set point of the internal temperature of the room to beinsulated and of the outer temperature. Similarly the air contents orvacuum in the intermediate space of the insulating body or of theinsulating bodies can be controlled depending on a measured sound ornoise level. The control of the air contents or of the vacuum can alsobe performed depending on time. The vacuum does not have to be (fully)maintained during low sound times or while the temperature does not haveto be maintained temporarily at the certain value, whereby energy can besaved.

[0012] The intermediate space of the insulating body or insulatingbodies can be flooded additionally with a non-inflammable gas forexample Halon (halogenated hydrocarbon) gas upon responding of a firealarm in case of employment as a fire protection.

[0013] The immediate space of one or several insulating bodies isconnected on the one hand to the suction connection of a vacuum pump andon the other hand to a connection of a ventilating valve in connectionwith a device for performing the method, wherein the suction connectionand the connection of the ventilating valve each is connected by in eachcase a control connection to the output connections of an automaticcontroller; a first measurement sensor measuring the inner temperatureof the room to be insulated and a second measurement sensor measuringthe outer temperature of the room to be insulated are connected to theinputs of this automatic controller and the operation of the vacuum pumpand the opening and closing of the ventilation valve are programcontrolled by the automatic controller depending on the measured innertemperature and/or outer temperature of the room to be insulated.

[0014] Similarly the vacuum pump and the ventilation valve can beconnected to the output connectors of a control device by in each case acontrol connection, wherein a measurement sensor measuring the noiselevel of a region to be monitored is connected to the inputs of thecontrol device; the operation of the vacuum pump and the opening andclosing of the ventilation valve is then performed by the control devicedepending on the measured noise level and preferably controlled by aprogram.

[0015] Upon use in a fire protection plant, the intermediate space ofone or more insulating bodies can be connected on the one hand to thesuction connection of a vacuum pump and on the other hand to theconnector of a gas pressure container through a valve closed in itsstarting position, wherein the gas pressure container is filled with anon-combustible gas, for example halon (halogenated hydrocarbon) gas;the valve is controlled and opened upon responding of a fire alarm forflooding of the intermediate space of the intermediate spaces with thenon-combustible gas.

[0016] The intermediate space of one or several insulating bodies can beconnected to the vacuum pump and to the ventilation valve through apneumatic buffer.

[0017] In case any insulating valve controllable by the temperatureautomatic controller is intermediately connected between theintermediate space for the intermediate spaces of one or severalinsulating bodies and the pneumatic buffer, wherein the insulating valvecooperates with a pressure automatic controller disposed between theintermediate space or the intermediate spaces and the automatictemperature controller, then the overall operating time of the vacuumpump can be reduced, whereby the energy use is lowered. The operatingsafety of the system can be increased with a monitoring of theinsulating valve.

[0018] Several insulating bodies can be composed like a moduleadvantageously for jacketing or covering of a wall of a room to beinsulated or for establishing a noise protection wall or a firewall; theintermediate spaces of these insulating bodies composed like modules canbe connected amongst each other and can form a common intermediatespace.

[0019] The intermediate spaces of insulating bodies composed likemodules however can also be airtight closed relative to each other suchthat the contents in air or, respectively, the vacuum is differentlycontrollable in these intermediate spaces. This is particularlyadvantageous in a situation wherein for example different rooms of abuilding or several chambers of a transport aircraft are to beautomatically controlled or, respectively, set to different innertemperatures. The excellent damming effect allows thereby thesimultaneous transport for example of frozen goods, fresh goods and drygoods in multiple chamber motor vehicles.

[0020] Preferably a measurement point is furnished at each of theintermediate spaces sealed airtight relative to each other, wherein theair pressure in the intermediate space can be measured and controlled atthe measurement point. This very much alleviates and accelerates thesearching for errors and the removal of interferences based on possiblyoccurring leakages. Otherwise necessary expensive thermal analyses canbe dispensed with.

[0021] One or several insulating bodies can be inserted into a firewallof a building as a fire protection.

[0022] The noise protection wall between one region and to be shieldedagainst noise and a source of noise or sound can be covered on the sidedisposed toward the noise or sound source with one or several insulatingbodies, wherein then the plate of the insulating body or of theinsulating bodies disposed toward the source of noise or sound isrounded advantageously toward the source of noise or sound. Sound wavesreflected at the plate are thereby reflected again in the directiontoward the source of noise or sound and to a lesser extent into theenvironment.

[0023] The intermediate space expanding upwardly by the rounding of aplate of the insulating body can be stiffened with permeableintermediate walls or braced reinforcements.

[0024] The insulating bodies employable according to the presentinvention comprise advantageously two plastic plates disposed at adistance from each other, wherein the intermediate space sealed airtightagainst the outside is filled with comminuted plastic waste.Advantageously all kinds of plastic waste in any occurring mixture canbe employed here without that these plastic wastes would have to besubjected to a particular intermediate treatment. Therefore the wasterecovery economy is relieved and the environment is cared for. Theproblem of the non-decayable plastics can be resolved at least in part.

[0025] The plastic plates can be connected to each other at the distanceby support braces; the plastic plates are thereby safely maintained at adistance and the stability of the insulating body is increased.

[0026] Advantageously, the insulating body can be adapted in its shapeto the surface of the wall of a room or of an object to be insulated.

[0027] The method and the device for the performance of the method areuniversally employable always there where insulation is to be providedagainst heat or cold or fire. Also the noise protection is improved. Byway of example of this several application regions for the Invention arerecited here without claiming any completeness or without being limitedto such examples:

[0028] Construction technology, insulating technology, aircraft andspace technology, motor vehicle technology, ship navigation technology,underwater technology, water supply technology, wastewater dischargetechnology, medical technology, chemical technology, biotechnology,research technology, and laboratory technology, clothing technology inparticular for sports clothing. Sound protection walls and soundprotection covers, fire protection walls, floor coverings, soundrecording rooms, protection rooms, rooms safe against interception andothers are possible as fields of application in buildings. Furthermore,consideration is to be given to sound protection cabins for machines ofall kinds, for motor vehicles, for rail vehicles, for rail construction,for boat turbines, for aircraft, for space vehicles etc. in theindustrial region and in the motor vehicle region. The noise protectionat vehicular roads, rail tracks, building parts, swing out rollershutter systems, door systems etc. can be improved.

[0029] The layer at the walls to be vacuum according to the presentInvention does have to amount in most cases to only a few millimeters,whereby a tremendous gain of useful space results for example inconnection with transport vehicles. Also the outer walls themselves canbe formed less strong. If for example today still outer wall thicknessesof 36.5 cm are masoned and insulated at buildings with conventionalinsulation for reaching of a low energy house, then only a wallthickness of 10 cm is required to application of the insulationaccording to the present invention. The house or the room to beinsulated in general becomes a heat storage or cold storage just asrequired. Energy is saved which can be used for other purposes.

[0030] The insulation could be completely dispensed with in constructionof prefabricated houses, since the hollow spaces can be evacuated uponcorresponding construction, which further simplifies the application ofthe present Invention and furnishes advantages to the pre-fabricatedhouse construction.

[0031] The invention is described in more detail by way of example inthe following based on the attached drawing:

[0032]FIG. 1 shows the construction of a plate shaped insulating body byway of example such as the insulating body can be employed according tothe present invention,

[0033]FIG. 2 shows schematically a device according to the presentinvention by way of example in connection with a wall of a building,

[0034]FIG. 3 illustrates the method according to the present inventionby way of example of a residential home to be insulated against excessheat and against cold,

[0035]FIG. 4 shows another example of an embodiment for the methodaccording to the present invention,

[0036]FIG. 5 shows by way of example the invention in connection withthe wall construction of a building,

[0037]FIG. 6 illustrates the application as a sound protection for amachine,

[0038]FIG. 7 shows an application as a fire protection and as soundprotection, and

[0039]FIG. 8 shows a sound protective for wall at a traffic road.

[0040] The insulating body 1 in FIG. 1 comprises two plates 2, whereinthe two plates 2 are connected to each other at a distance relative toeach other by for example grid shaped disposed support braces 3 havingpassage openings (not illustrated), wherein the support braces 3 on theone hand maintain the distance between the plates 2 and on the otherhand assure the stability of the insulating body 1. The plates 2 can besupported in a frame not illustrated. The intermediate space 4 betweenthe plates 2 is sealed airtight against the outside which can beaccomplished for example with the aid of a weldable foil surrounding theinsulating body 1. Here initially however the intermediate space 4 ismaintained open toward one side, preferably toward the top, such thatthe intermediate space 4 can be filled with plastic granulate orpreferably comminuted plastic wastes. For this purpose the mostdifferent plastic wastes in an arbitrary mixture can be employed,wherein the most different plastic wastes do not require any furthertreatment. The intermediate space 4 is finally closed airtight towardthe outside after the filling, and the air enclosed therein is pumpedoff with the aid of a vacuum pump through a connector furnished for thispurpose. If the connector for the vacuum pump is thereafter also closedairtight, one obtains an insulating body 1, wherein the insulating body1 exhibits with respect to thermal conductivity similar properties asthe closed cell foam plastic produced under vacuum and wherein theinsulating body 1 obtains a good stability by the plates 2, by thesupport braces 3 and by a frame capturing the plates 2. Here the plates2, the frames supporting the plates 2, and the support braces 3 cancomprise all also plastic, whereby not only the weight is reducedrelative to the known lining panels out of stainless-steel plates weldedinto profile frames, but also the production costs are substantiallyreduced. The possibilities of application are multiplied by the lowerweight and transport and mounting are rendered easier. Since no soundtransmission occurs in vacuum, such insulating bodies are alsoexcellently suitable for sound shielding, whether sound shielding isrequired or desired.

[0041] The insulating body 1 itself can have a flat plate form as shownin FIG. 1, however the insulating body 1 can also without problem havean arbitrary different form, for example a curved form especially byemploying of plastic as a material, wherein the arbitrary different formadapts to the surface to be jacketed, for example the surface of thewall of a boiler, of a tube or also of a building.

[0042] Several insulating bodies 1 can be connected to each other likemodules for jacketing and covering of a wall of a room to be insulatedagainst heat or cold or sound and the insulating body can this way beadapted to the pre-given dimensions and shapes. The intermediate spacesfor of the insulating bodies 1 connected to each other like a module canbe connected amongst each other such that finally a common intermediatespace 4 is generated. However it can be also of advantage when theintermediate spaces 4 of individual insulating bodies 1 remain airtightsealed against each other. This way in fact the search for errors andthe treatment of interferences, for example based on leakages possiblyoccurring in the course of time, is simplified and alleviated.

[0043] The intermediate space 4 of one or several insulating bodies 1remains connected to a vacuum pump and the operation of the vacuum pumpis controlled according to a program and this way the under pressure inthe intermediate space 4 and thereby the thermal conductivity and/or thesound damming of the insulating body 1 are changed in order to renderthe thermal connectivity and the sound damming of an insulating body 1changeable and thereby adaptable to outer situations such as for examplethe outer temperature or the traffic volume, or to different set pointvalues of the internal temperature, for example during the day andduring night.

[0044] This is schematically and by way of example illustrated in FIG. 2in connection with the automatic temperature control of a building. Theouter wall of an arbitrary building is designated with reference numeral5, wherein the arbitrary building is subdivided in its interior byintermediate ceilings 6 and by intermediate walls not illustrated intodifferent rooms 7, 8. The outer wall 5 is covered at its outer face withplate shaped insulating bodies 1, such as they are described above. Theface of the insulating body 1 directed toward the outside can befurnished with the usual exterior rendering or plastering. Theinsulating bodies 1 are part of the automatic control distance of anautomatic control circuit by way of which the inner temperature in therooms 7, 8 of the building is automatically controlled and maintained atassert value, for example 20 degrees centigrade. Here during the daydepending on the time of the year and the weather there is to beexploited the heat irradiation of the sun for the heating of the rooms7, 8 or there is to be avoided a too strong warming of the rooms 7, 8,wherein the thermal conductivity of the insulating bodies 1 is to bemade changeable for this purpose.

[0045] The intermediate space 4 of the insulating bodies 1 is filledwith plastic granulate or with comminuted plastic and is for thispurpose connected both with a vacuum pump 11 as well as with aventilation valve 12, preferably through a pneumatic buffer 10, whereinunder pressure in the intermediate spaces is influenced by a controller13 through the vacuum pump 11 and the ventilation valve 12, that ischanged and also can be completely lifted by ventilation. For thispurpose the value of the inner temperature of the building or,respectively, of the rooms 7, 8 of the building from a first measurementsensor 14 and the value of the outer temperature through a secondmeasurement sensor 15 are fed to the automatic controller 13. The actualvalue of the inner temperature representing the instantaneous value ofthe temperature to be automatically controlled is compared with itsadjusted set point value in the automatic controller 13 and the vacuumpump 11 or at the ventilation valve 12 is correspondingly controlled incase of a deviation by an output signal and thereby the vacuum or,respectively, the air content in the insulating bodies 1 and thereby thethermal conductivity of the insulating bodies 1 is correspondinglychanged. In addition also a control of the thermal conductivity of theinsulating bodies 1 is possible depending on the actual outertemperature determined by the second measurement sensor 15. In additionthe possibility is indicated in FIG. 2 at reference numeral 16 tocontrol the thermal permeability of the respective insulating bodies 1for a room 7 or 8 depending on whether a window 17 is opened or closed,in order to avoid an unnecessary cooling of the room while the window 17is opened. A contact 18 is connected to the window wing, wherein thecontact 18 sends a message to the automatic controller 13 in case thewindow 17 is open and in order to activate then the insulation of theroom such that the stored heat in the room cannot be discharged or canonly be in a possibly reduced measure discharged through the outer wall.

[0046] A check valve 37 can be inserted between the insulating bodies 1or, respectively, the intermediate spaces 4 of the insulating bodies 1and the pneumatic buffer 10, wherein the check valve 37 cooperates witha pressure automatic controller 38 furnished for the monitoring of theunder pressure. The operation time of the vacuum pump 11 is shortenedthereby upon corresponding layout of the pneumatic buffer 10 and theenergy use is reduced. In addition to the operational safety of thesystem can be increased by the monitoring of the check valve 37.

[0047] The mode of operation of the methods and of the apparatus for theperformance of the method becomes clear from a view of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3together.

[0048] The outer walls 5 of a building 19 in FIG. 3 are covered withplate shaped insulating bodies 1 according to FIG. 2 and theintermediate spaces 4 of the insulating bodies 1 are connected with anautomatic control device as described above. In the inner room 7 or theinner rooms 7 of the building 19, for example of a residential building,are to be maintained with heating technology at a uniform remainingtemperature of 20 degrees centigrade. For this purpose not only the airin the room but also the surrounding walls have to be warmed. As long asthe outer temperature is disposed below 20 degrees centigrade, adischarge of heat from the building has to be avoided through the outerwalls 5. This means that the intermediate spaces 4 of the insulatingbodies 1, wherein the outer walls 5 are covered within the insulatingbody 1, are evacuated with the connected vacuum pump 11 to such anextent and thereby the heat conductivity is reduced, that nearly no heatcan be discharged from the building 19. If the outside temperaturereaches 20 degrees centigrade and more, then the insulation is renderedtransparent by separating the vacuum pump 11 and by ventilating theinsulating bodies 1 or, respectively, the intermediate spaces 4 of theinsulating bodies 1 by opening of the ventilation valve 12, this meansthat the thermal connectivity is increased such that heat from theoutside can be funneled into the building 19. This way solar energy isused for heating the rooms 7 of the building 19 and of the walls 5surrounding the rooms 7. The ventilation valve 12 is closed againthrough the automatic controller 13, wherein the value of the innertemperature is signalized by the first measurement sensor 14 to theautomatic controller 13, and if necessary the intermediate space 4 ofthe insulating bodies 1 is again evacuated (in part) by the vacuum pump11 before the inner temperature in the building 19 can increase too muchbased on the solar irradiation. This way the inner temperature isautomatically controlled to a desired value through the automaticcontroller 13, by setting and resetting the under pressure or,respectively, the air content in the intermediate spaces 4 of theinsulating bodies 1 by opening and closing of the ventilation valve 12and separating and connecting the vacuum pump 11 to a value, wherein thevalue gives a thermal conductivity of the insulating body 1, whichthermal conductivity maintains the inner temperature at a constantvalue. This value in turn is depending on the outer temperature, whichouter temperature is signalized to the automatic controller 13 throughthe measurement sensor 15 such that this value can be reset in the sameway by the automatic controller 13.

[0049] With this temperature setting of the inner room or of the innerrooms of a building there is generated no air circulation in the roomsand no vortex formation of dust particles and bacteria with theirunpleasant or even damaging consequences in contrast to conventionalheating and air conditioning plants, such that the well-being of personsis increased substantially. Since the walls of the building equallybreathe based on the changeability of their thermal conductivity andsince the continuous temperature balancing occurs, also no condensatewater can form in the rooms and mold formation is avoided.

[0050] As mentioned above, the insulating bodies 1 are composed likemodules in order to be able to cover a larger area such as the outsidewall of a building, wherein the intermediate spaces 4 of the individualmodules are in connection amongst each other or can be closed offairtight against each other as desired or required. Thus it becomespossible to maintain different rooms 7, 8 of a building at temperaturesdeviating from each other. For this purpose, the intermediate spaces 4of the insulating bodies 1, which cover the outer wall of a room 7, areconnected to each other, but are airtight sealed against theintermediate spaces 4 of another, neighboring room 8. The automaticcontroller 13 can control the air contents or the vacuum in therespective intermediate spaces 4 in such a different way according to acorresponding program that the internal temperature of the rooms 7, 8 isautomatically controlled to different values.

[0051] The method and the device can be equally employed in cases wherecare has been taken for cooling off for example to a constant value ofsix degrees centigrade, as is the case for example with cool transportof food materials. In these cases the insulating is made transparent inthe described way as soon as the outside temperature falls to sixdegrees centigrade and below such that then the low outside temperaturetakes care of the cooling by heat flow from the inner space into theenvironment and thereby energy can be saved.

[0052] A further embodiment is shown in FIG. 4. The conducting pipes 20can be surrounded with insulating bodies 1 of the described kind adaptedon the surface of the conducting pipes 20 and the temperature in theinterior 21 of the conducting pipe 20 can be automatically controlled bycontrolling the air content or the under pressure in the intermediatespace 4 of the insulating bodies 20 to for example constant six degreescentigrade, such that an undesired warming of the water and losses byevaporation can be avoided in for example very hot areas, where thewater supply represents a problem and where drinking water has to betransported over long distances through pipe conduits. Also in this casethe insulating bodies 20 are composed like modules in sections 22. Theintermediate spaces 4 of the individual insulating bodies 1 for thesections 22 preferably remain airtight sealed from each other and ameasurement point 22 can be furnished in each section 22, wherein thepressure in the respective intermediate space 4 can be controlled at themeasurement point 22. Occurring disturbances based on leakages canthereby be quickly and simply located and corrected. The expensivethermal analysis required for this purpose in connection withconventional insulations can be dispensed with.

[0053]FIG. 5 shows the application of the Invention at the firewall 24of a building for improving the fire protection. The insulating body 1or the insulating bodies 1 are inserted into the firewall 24 between twobuildings or building parts, for example between rowhouses ortownhouses. For this purpose, the firewall 24 is to be built in twolayers. While pulling up the wall, initially the one layer 24′ can beproduced, whereupon the insulating bodies 1 are placed and attached atthis layer 24′; in the following the second layer 24″ of the firewall 24is finished. The evacuated insulating bodies 1 based on their reducedthermal conductivity offer in principle an improved fire protection. Thegripping over of flames is prevented or at least substantially moredifficult based on the lack of oxygen in the intermediate spaces 4 ofthe insulating bodies 1. The fire protection however can be furtheroptimized by flooding the intermediate space 4 of the insulating bodies1 in case of a fire additionally with a noncombustible gas, for examplehalon (halogenated hydrocarbon). For this purpose, the intermediatespace is connected to the gas pressure container 26 through astandardwise closed valve 25, wherein the gas pressure container 26 isfilled for example with halon gas. As already described by way of FIG.2, there exists the connection through a valve 27 and the pneumaticbuffer 10 to the vacuum pump 11. Triggered by a fire alarm in case of afire, the valve 25 is opened and the intermediate space 4 is chargedwith halon gas. If the firewall 24 is damaged from one side by the fireand if the flames penetrate up to the insulating body 1 such that theinsulating body 1 becomes unsealed, then the halon gas can flow out ofthe intermediate space 4 of the respective insulating body 1 and furtherflow from the pressure container 26 into the room, where the fireoccurred. The flames cannot further expand based on the withdrawal ofoxygen and the fire is finally extinguished.

[0054] In a standard situation, that is no fire has been signaled, theinsulating body 1 operates in the firewall 24 in the above describedfashion as a standard sound insulation and thermal insulation and coldinsulation.

[0055] The gas pressure container 26 can be incorporated into thebuildings as a storage; the halonization of the insulating bodies 1 canbe performed centrally controlled through a computer system. Theapplication is offered in particular for buildings which are very highand which are already equipped with a conducting system of the buildingfor air conditioning plants. A retrofitting is here possible withoutlarger problems during reconstruction in the individual floors. Thecosts are here also in an acceptable frame, since the striking plasticscan be employed and also known larger static problems are generated. Thefire regulations are met based on the employment of noncombustiblerecycling plastics. The control can be adapted in the same way as is thecase in the thermal insulation and cold insulation to the requirement ofthe respective application, the insulation can be made more or lesstransparent such that a gas exchange can take place corresponding to theheat exchange.

[0056] The wall construction of a noise protection cabin for a machine28 with large noise generation, for example a press machine or ashredding machine is illustrated by way of example in FIG. 5. Themachine 28 is surrounded by a sound protection cabin, wherein the walls29 and the ceiling 30 of the sound protection cabin are covered from theinside with insulating bodies 1 abutting. The intermediate spaces 4 ofthe individual insulating bodies 1 can preferably be connected to eachother at the connection points 31. The intermediate spaces 4 over allare connected to the vacuum pump 11 in the way already described throughthe valve 27 and the pneumatic buffer 10. Here the insulating bodies 1operate also primarily as a noise protection toward the outside, sincethe sound waves cannot be transferred in the air free space. The noiseprotection does have to be fully effective only during the operation ofthe machine 28. Therefore the evacuation of the intermediate spaces ofthe insulating bodies 1 can be controlled depending on the sound levelthrough a control not illustrated. Similarly a safety device can befurnished which effects that the machine 28 can only be operated in caseof an effective noise insulation, that is vacuum in the intermediatespaces 4.

[0057]FIG. 7 shows the wall construction of an interior room 32, whereinthe walls 29 and the ceiling 30 of the inner room 32 are covered fromthe inside with insulating bodies 1 abutting in analogy to the soundprotection shown in FIG. 6. The intermediate spaces for the insulatingbodies 1 are again connected to vacuum pump 11 through a valve 17 and apneumatic buffer 10 such that initially a standard sound insulation andthermal insulation and cold insulation as described above can beperformed. In addition, the intermediate spaces 4 are connected to a gaspressure container 26 through a further valve 25 closed under standardconditions, wherein a noncombustible gas, for example halon gas, isstored in the gas pressure container 26. If a fire should breakout inthe room 32, then the insulating bodies 1 operate immediately as fireprotection based on the vacuum prevailing in the intermediate spaces 4and prevent that the fire catches over to neighboring rooms in a shorttime period. Furthermore, the valve 25 is opened controlled through afire alarm and the intermediate spaces 4 are flooded with halon gas andthereby the effectivity of the fire protection is substantiallyincreased. If the intermediate spaces 4 are damaged or, respectively,made unsealed by the fire, then the halon gas flows also into the innerroom 32; the flames are extinguished in a short time based on thewithdrawal of oxygen, there takes place then also a direct fight withthe fire. In case the insulating bodies 1 remained undamaged, theintermediate spaces 4 remained sealed, then the halon gas can be suckedoff again after the fire and can be reused.

[0058]FIG. 8 shows the construction of a sound protection wall at forexample a heavily driven motor vehicle road. At the reference numeral 33the region to be protected against noise is assumed, for example aresidential area, at reference numeral 34 there is to be present a soundsource, for example a motor vehicle road or also a railroad. A noiseprotection wall 35 is constructed between the area 33 to be protectedand the motor vehicle road 34, wherein the area of the sound protectionwall 35 disposed toward the noise source is covered with insulatingbodies 1. Preferably the plate 2′ of the insulating body 1 disposedtoward the motor vehicle road as a noise source 34 is curved such thatsound waves reflected at the plate 2′ are back deflected in thedirection of the sound source 34 or of the motor vehicle road. Theintermediate space 4 expanding upwardly and generated between the curvedplate 2′ and the plane a plate 2″ of the insulating body 1 resting atthe sound protection wall 35 can be stabilized by several permeableseparating walls 36. The intermediate space 4 is vacuumed also in thiscase or, respectively, connected to a vacuum pump 11 through a valve 25and a pneumatic buffer 10. The vacuum enclosed in the intermediate space4 acts in addition sound damming and can be adapted to the noise levelcontrolled through the vacuum pump.

[0059] The Invention has been described by way of several applicationexamples, the field of application of the Invention however is unlimitedfor practical purposes; the Invention can always be applied to whereinsulation is sought against heat and/or cold, against sound or fire.

Patent claims
 1. Methods for insulating against heat and/or cold and/orsound and/or fire, wherein a wall or walls are covered with one orseveral insulating bodies (1), wherein each of the insulating bodies (1)comprises two plates (2) disposed at a distance, wherein theintermediate space (4) of the plates (2) is filled with insulatingmaterial, sealed airtight toward the outside and evacuated,characterized in that the air contents or, respectively, the vacuum inthe intermediate space (4) of the insulating body (1) or of theinsulating bodies (1) and there this is the heat conductivity or soundconductivity of the intermediate space (4) is changed depending on thesurrounding temperature, the inner temperature and/or the outsidetemperature or of the prevailing sound level in the area or room (7, 8,21, 32, 34) to be insulated.
 2. Method according to claim 1characterized in that the intermediate space (4) of the insulating body(1) or of the insulating bodies (1) is evacuated or ventilated asrequired controlled by a program depending on the surroundingtemperature, the inner temperature and/or the outside temperature or theprevailing sound level in the region or room (7, 8, 21, 32, 34) to beinsulated.
 3. Method according to claim 2 characterized in that theinner temperature of a room (7, 8, 21) to be insulated is automaticallycontrolled by an automatic controller (13) to a set point valuepreselected in the automatic controller (13) by evacuating andventilating of the intermediate space (4) of the insulating body (1) orof the insulating bodies (1).
 4. Method according to claim 3characterized in that the air contents or, respectively, the vacuum inthe intermediate space (4) of the insulating body (1) or of theinsulating bodies (1) is controlled by the automatic controller (13)depending on the difference between the set point value of the innertemperature of the room (7, 8, 21) to be insulated and the outsidetemperature.
 5. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that theair contents or, respectively, the vacuum in the intermediate space (4)of the insulating body (1) or of the insulating bodies (1) arecontrolled depending on a measured sound level.
 6. Method according toclaim 1 characterized in that the air contents or, respectively, thevacuum in the intermediate space (4) of the insulating body (1) or ofthe insulating bodies (1) is controlled depending on time.
 7. Methodaccording to claim 1 characterized in that the intermediate space (4) ofthe insulating body (1) or of the insulating bodies (1) is flooded witha noncombustible gas, for example a halon gas upon responding of a firealarm.
 8. Device for performing the method according to claim 1,characterized in that the intermediate space (4) of one insulating body(1) or of several insulating bodies (1) on the one hand is connected tothe suction connector of a vacuum pump (11) and on the other hand isconnected to a connector offered ventilation wealth (12), wherein thevacuum pump (11) and the ventilation valve (12) are connected through ineach case a control connection to the output connectors of an automaticcontroller (13), wherein a first measurement sensor (14) measuring theinternal temperature of the room (7, 8, 21) to be insulated and a secondmeasurement sensor (15) measuring the outside temperature at the room(7, 8, 21) to be insulated are connected to the inputs of the automaticcontroller (13) and wherein the operation of the vacuum pump (11) andthe opening and closing of the ventilation wealth (12) are programmedcontrolled by the automatic controller (13) depending on the measuredinternal temperature and/or outside temperature of the room (7, 8, 21)to be insulated.
 9. Device for the performing of the method according toclaim 1 characterized in that the intermediate space (4) of oneinsulating body (1) or several insulating bodies (1) is connected on theone hand to the suction connector of a vacuum pump (11) and on the airand to a connector offered ventilation valve (12), wherein the vacuumfarm (11) and the ventilation wealth (12) are connected to the outputconnectors of a control device through in each case a control connector,wherein a measurement sensor (14) measuring the sound level of a regionto be monitored is connected to the inputs of the control device andwherein the operation of the vacuum pump (11) and the opening andclosing of the ventilation valve (12) are programmed controlled by thecontrol device depending on the measured sound level.
 10. Device for theperforming of the method according to claim 1 characterized in that theintermediate space (4) of one insulating body (1) or of severalinsulating bodies (1) is connected on the one hand to a suctionconnection of a vacuum pump (11) and on the other hand to the connectorof the gas pressure container (26) through a valve (25) closed in itsstarting position, wherein the gas pressure container (26) is filledwith a noncombustible gas and wherein the valve (25) is controllable bya control device upon responding of a fire alarm for flooding of theintermediate space (4) or of the intermediate spaces (4) with thenon-combustible gas.
 11. Device according to one of the claims 8 through10, characterized in that the intermediate space (4) of one insulatingbody (1) or of several insulating bodies (1) is connected to the vacuumpump (11) and to the ventilation valve (12) through a pneumatic buffer(10).
 12. Device according to claim 11 characterized in that aninsulating valve (37) controllable by the temperature controller (13) isincorporated between the intermediate space (4) or the intermediatespaces (4) of one or several insulating bodies (1) and the pneumaticbuffer (10), wherein the insulating valve (37) cooperates with anautomatic pressure controller (38) inserted between the intermediatespace (4) or the intermediate spaces (4) and the temperature controller(13).
 13. Device according to one of the claims 8 through 12characterized in that several insulating bodies (1) are composed likemodules for covering or jacketing of a wall (5, 29, 30) of one room (7,8, 21, 32) to be insulated, wherein the intermediate spaces (4) of themodule like composed insulating bodies (1) are connected to each otherand form a common intermediate space (4).
 14. Device according to one ofthe claims 8 through 12 characterized in that several insulating bodies(1) for covering or jacketing of a wall (5, 29, 30) of a room (7, 8, 21,32) to be insulated or of a firewall are composed like modules, whereinthe intermediate spaces (4) of the insulating bodies (1) composed likemodules are sealed airtight against each other and wherein the aircontents or, respectively, the vacuum is differently controllable inthese intermediate spaces (4).
 15. Device according to claim 14characterized in that a measurement point (23) is furnished at each ofthe intermediate spaces (4) airtight sealed against each other, whereinthe air pressure in the intermediate space (4) can be measured at themeasurement point (23).
 16. Device for the performing of the methodaccording to claim 1 characterized in that one insulating body (1) orseveral insulating bodies (1) are inserted into the firewall (24) of abuilding.
 17. Device for performing the method according to claim 1characterized in that the noise protection wall (35) is covered with oneinsulating body (1) or several insulating bodies (1) between the region(33) to be shielded against the sound and a sound source (24) on theside disposed toward the sound source (34) and wherein the plates (2′)of the insulating body (1) or of the insulating bodies (1) disposedtoward the sound source (34) is rounded toward the sound source (24).18. Device according to claim 17 characterized in that the intermediatespace (4) expanding toward the top by the rounding of the one plate (2′)of the insulating body (1) is stiffened and reinforced by way ofpermeable intermediate walls (36).
 19. Device for performing the methodaccording to claim 1 characterized in that the insulating body (1)comprises two plastic plates (2) disposed at a distance, wherein he theintermediate space (4) closed airtight toward the outside is filled withcomminuted or shredded plastic wastes.
 20. Device for performing themethod according to claim 1 characterized in that the plastic plates (2)are connected to each other at the distance by support braces (3). 21.Device for performing the method according to claim 1 characterized inthat the insulating body (1) is adapted in its shape to the surface ofthe wall of a room (7, 8, 21, 32) to be insulated or of an object.